Utility of Carotid and Aortic Intima-Media Thickness Measurement as a Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease

SUMMARY: 1. 40 angiographically proven CAD cases and 30 age and sex matched controls without CAD or risk factors were taken for study. 2. History of diabetes and hypertension was documented and fasting lipid profile was done for the subjects. 3. They were subjected to Doppler ultrasonography of carotid and transesophageal echocardiography for measurement of carotid and aortic intimal medial thickness respectively. 4. 22 (55%) and 19(47.5%) cases had significantly increased carotid and aortic intima media thickness respectively. 5. Only 2(6.6%) and 1(3.3%) controls had increased carotid and aortic intima media thickness respectively. 6. There was a statistically significant association between intima media thickness and coronary artery disease. 7. Increased intima media thickness was seen more frequently in diabetics, hypertensives and smokers but their association was not statistically signinificant. 8. A statistically significant association was found between abnormal lipid profile and increased intima media thickness. 9. An average carotid IMT of 0.67, 0.70, 0.78 and 0.86 mm and an average aortic IMT of 0.7, 0.77, 0.81 and 1.02 mm was seen in age groups of 70 years respectively. 10. A significant association was found between age and intima media thickness. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Carotid and Aortic intimal medial thickness is increased among CAD patients and can be used as a non invasive marker of coronary atherosclerosis. 2. Age is directly related to intimal medial thickness and it increases with age. 3. Abnormal lipid profile correlates with increased intimal thickness and might be possibly used as tool to follow up patients on hypolipidemic drugs. 4. Presence of diabetes, hypertension or smoking does not seem to affect intimal medial thickness